Dimmer for headlights



Patented [Fee 23, 1924.

iszaiaz more.

THOMAS J. MADIGAN, or NEW relax, at. Y.

DIMMER roa HEADLIGHTSQ Application filed January 15, 1924. Serial No. 686,289.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. MADIGAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the 'boroiw'hof Manhattan citv count and State of New York, have invented cer tain new and useful. Improvements in Dimlners for Headlights, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to a light for vehicles and, more particularly, to a dimmer device for diffusing the light from a vehicle lamp and reflector to prevent glare.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which will thoroughly diffuse thelight from the lamp and reflector.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dimmer device of simple and inexpensive construction which may be readily mounted in vehicle lights of the usual construction. A With these and other objects in view the invention comprises, the vehicle light and the dimmer device described and set forth in the following specification and claims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: i i

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a vehicle light and dimmer embodying a form of the invention, I

Fig. 2 is a side view of the dimmer device removed from the reflector ofthe light,

Fig. 3 is a front view of the dimmer,

Fig. 4; is a front view of a diiferent form of dimmer, and 1 Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a slightly modified form of the invention illustrating the position of the light bulb to the dimmer.

In my present invention, the bulb of the light is surrounded or set into an inner light reflecting or dimmer shell which is mounted in the reflector of the vehicle light and opening towards the open end of the reflector. This inner shell is of parabolic shape or of substantially parabolic shape and the outer, forward, open edge of the shell is bent slightly out of a true circular shape to form a number of angles, the edge of the shell connecting these angle-s being, however, slightly rounded outwardly. The shell is perforated with anumber of openings or slits preferably placed in series on longitudinal lines of the shell in alignment with the bends or corners of the edge. Accordingly, a portion of the light from the bulb may pass through these slits to the reflecting wall of the reflector while the remaining rays of light may be reflected from the curved walls of the inner, dimmer shell, the bending of the shell causing these rays to be difl usedv in such a manner as to prevent a glare.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the invention isillustrated as applied to a vehicle light- 10 having an inner reflecting shell 12 of the usual substantially parabolic, shape, and a lamp or bulb: socket 14 in which a bulb 16 may be inserted and secured by meansof a bayonet joint 18 or other suitable securing means;

Current maybe supplied tothelamp 16 from a lead 20 connected to the socket ll by a plug 22 in the usual manner. The lamp may be provided with a support'23 and with a glass window 24: if desired and may be of any desired design. I

A dimmer device of the present invention, comprising an inner shell 26, preferably of substantially parabolic shape, is mounted in a light reflector of the aboveoutlined, or equivalent, type in such a manner that the base of the lamp 16 projects or extends through an opening 28in the base of the inner shell 26 and the shell is supported with its open end facing forwardly towards the open end of the reflector 12. i

The rim or edge 30 of the larger or forward end of the shell 26. is not circular in form but is bent at intervals into corners 32, fourcorners being shown in the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawin=gs,. the

edges 3&- between these corners being curved con-vexly outwardly.- The bends atthe corners 32 extend a short distance inwardly in the wall of the shell.

The light rays from the bulb or lamp 16 striking the inner surface of the shell 26 are reflected in a generally forward direction but by the bending and configuration of the shell these light rays are distributed, avoiding a concentration of light from a limited area and providing an effective diffusion of the rays. A portion of the light rays is also permitted to pass through slits 36 in the shell wall to the reflecting surface 12 of the vehicle light. from which they are reflected forwardly from the projected area between the inner shell 26 and the reflecting surface 12. These slits have their longer dimensions transverse to the length of the shell and are preferably ariiifl ranged in series longitudinal to the length i of the shell and aligned With the corners 32 or symmetrically on lines or elements from these corners to the central inner opening 28. The slits may be all of the equal dimensions as indicated in Fig. 3 or they may be of decreasing lengths toward the inner portion of the shell as indicated in Fig. 4. The area of the inner shell from which light can be reflected is thereby so broken up that a concentration of light such as to produce a glare is limited or eliminated. The light which passes through the slits 36 is so distributed over the area of the reflecting surface 12 as to avoid a concentrated glare of light from this source.

The shell 26 may be supported by engaging the edge about the opening 28 between the base of the bulb 16 and the outer edge of the socket 14. To further strengthen and support the shell a concave washer or reinforcement 38 is provided at the rear face of the shell between the shell and the lamp socket. This reinforcement may be separate from the shell as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be mounted or secured thereon as indicated in Fig. 5.

The above invention provides a simple and inexpensive device by which the glare from vehicle lamps may be avoided without diminution of the quantity of light provided by the light. It is, moreover, of such a construction that it may be readily mounted on lights of the usual type Without any especial adjustment or modification of the light.

Having described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A device of the type described which comprises, a light reflecting shell having its edges bent angularly to corners spaced equidistantly about the periphery of the shell, and a series of openings along the angular bends.

2. A device of the type described which comprises, a light reflecting shell having its edge angularly bent at equidistant intervals and a plurality of series of openings in the Wall of the shell, a series extending along each angular bend.

3. A device of the type described which comprises, a light reflecting shell of substantially parabolic shape having its edge bent angularly at equidistant intervals and slits in the wall of the shell, transverse to the length of the shell.

4. A device of the type described which comprises, a light reflecting shell having its edge bent angularly at equidistant intervals and slits in the Wall of the shell, transverse to the length of the shell and arranged in longitudinal series aligned with their respective angular bends.

5. A device of the type described which comprises, a light reflecting shell of substantially parabolic shape having its edge bent angularly at equidistant intervals and slits in the wall of the shell, transverse to the length of the shell and of decreasing dimensions toward the interior of the shell.

6. A device of the type described which comprises a light reflecting shell of substantially parabolic shape having slits transverse to the length of the shell and arranged in series extending lengthwise of the shell.

7. A device of the type described which comprises, a light reflecting shell of substantially parabolic shape having its edge bent angularly at substantially equidistant intervals, slits in said shell transverse to its length and arranged in series aligned with said bent portions and in decreasing dimensions toward the inner portion of said shell.

8. A device of the type described which comprises, a reflector, an inner reflector shell of substantially parabolic shape in said reflector, said shell having slits in its wall transverse to its length, the edge of said shell being bent at intervals into angles.

THOMAS J. MADIGAN. 

